Collagen and Protein Feast Night @ cafe TOO

As we age, supplementing collagen and protein becomes essential. What better way to indulge in a luxurious yet affordable feast than a buffet? This time, I joined a group of friends to enjoy an unlimited collagen and protein-filled dinner buffet. We headed to cafe TOO at Island Shangri-La Hotel to savor the highly acclaimed Seafood Feast Buffet Dinner. Upon entering the restaurant, the chilled seafood section immediately caught my eye. To my surprise, they had my favorite slipper lobsters! Other options included clams, flower crabs, and abalone, all waiting to be enjoyed. Turning the corner, we found the Japanese section, offering octopus, herring, salmon, tuna, and yellowtail sashimi. Occasionally, they rotate the selection to include items like sweet shrimp. The salmon roe theme from last time was still available, and you could eat as much as you wanted. The restaurant even thoughtfully prepared mini sashimi rice bowls for easy tasting. Sushi and rolls were, of course, a staple! Additionally, there were various flavors of tamagoyaki, karaage chicken, and takoyaki. Don’t think the chilled seafood ends there! They also had sea snails, bread crabs, prawns, and mussels, making it a paradise for seafood lovers. The appetizer section featured a variety of bread, cheeses, smoked salmon, cured ham, Caesar salad, and a DIY salad bar. Next to it was the beverage station, offering orange juice, grapefruit lime tea, mixed fruit punch, lemon special drink, iced milk tea, and hazelnut iced coffee, all replenished continuously. The hot food section was a long stretch filled with diverse Chinese and Western dishes. Highlights included freshly steamed lobster and garlic vermicelli scallops. Other options included braised rice noodles with preserved vegetables and duck, Sichuan-style stir-fried seafood, shrimp dumplings, siu mai, sticky rice with flower crab, typhoon shelter-style fried prawns, and pork ribs soup with Chinese herbs. The roasted meat station offered soy sauce chicken, honey-glazed char siu, and roasted duck, all beautifully presented, especially the soy sauce chicken. Western dishes included roasted beef ribs for meat lovers, German sausages, roasted vegetables, cauliflower cream soup, pan-seared duck breast, Italian ravioli, roasted lamb leg, and roasted cabbage with capers. The noodle station provided pork and chicken broth, allowing guests to customize their own bowl of noodle soup. Or, you could opt for a bowl of crab meat and fish maw noodles—a luxurious and delicious way to boost collagen. Other highlights included Moutai drunken shrimp, stir-fried kale with three treasures, seafood winter melon soup, Thai tom yum snail soup, pickled fish, baked oysters, braised pork belly with seafood, and freshly fried tempura. At one station, I spotted a cabinet filled with fish maw, and my eyes lit up! This section offered braised fish maw in abalone sauce, and you could take as much as you wanted—truly irresistible. Finally, there was a rich selection of halal dishes, including lentil soup, chicken shawarma wraps, Arabic lamb rice, pan-fried chicken, grilled beef skewers, spicy vegetarian shrimp, and a variety of fresh Indian appetizers and salads. The dessert section was a feast for the eyes, with countless options. I was particularly delighted by the fresh-cut fruits, especially the pineapple. It was a satisfying touch. The buffet also featured local favorites like egg waffles and grid cakes. Fans of traditional desserts should save room for these treats. Dessert highlights included hojicha cake, chocolate bird’s nest, caramel cookie brownies, macarons, matcha tart, chocolate tart, citrus jelly, cheese tart, mango and black sesame mochi, cherry blossom roll, matcha cake, yuzu strawberry cake, matcha tiramisu, hojicha coffee puffs, and Hokkaido cheesecake. With so many choices, you’re bound to find something you love. Italian gelato flavors included yuzu, cherry blossom red bean, black sesame, hojicha, Japanese green tea, and milk strawberry. I started my collagen and protein journey with a plate of DIY salad, featuring sweet rocket leaves and sesame dressing—refreshing and delightful. I picked two pieces of each sashimi to share with my dad. All were fresh and glossy, with sweet shrimp being my favorite for its sticky and flavorful texture. For chilled seafood, I chose slipper lobsters, flower crabs, abalone, and clams. My dad got creative by topping the seafood with salty salmon roe, enhancing the texture and flavor—a true upgrade. He even made a salmon roe crab cup by mixing crab meat with salmon roe. I felt so lucky to enjoy this indulgent bite. After the appetizers and cold dishes, I moved on to the hot dishes. Freshly steamed seafood was a must-try. The lobster was incredibly meaty and tender, while the garlic vermicelli scallops were flavorful and delicious. I continued with other seafood and Chinese dishes. The shrimp dumplings were a must-have, the Moutai drunken shrimp was aromatic and bouncy, the sticky rice with flower crab and Sichuan-style stir-fried seafood were flavorful, and the soy sauce chicken was my personal favorite. The highlight of the night was definitely the typhoon shelter-style fried prawns. The prawns were as big as fists, with firm and flavorful meat. The prawn heads were filled with bright orange roe—absolutely enticing. Next came the star dish: braised fish maw in abalone sauce. The fish maw was tender and flavorful, paired with green vegetables and mushrooms, resembling banquet-style dishes. I had several servings to boost my collagen intake. Around 7 PM, a bell rang, signaling the arrival of the double-boiled soup. Everyone lined up for the Five-Finger Hair Peach Soup, which was hot, rich, and nourishing. For Western dishes, I chose a plate of vegetarian options. The fried potatoes were incredibly fragrant, and the roasted sweet peppers were my favorite. For carbs, my friend opted for crab meat fish maw noodles, while I chose rice noodles. The rice noodles were smooth and paired perfectly with the soft fish maw and crab meat—absolutely delicious. Dessert time started with Italian gelato. Among the many flavors, my favorites were hojicha and black sesame. The gelato was creamy and rich, so I made sure to save room for two more scoops. I tried macarons and left the rest of the desserts for my friends to enjoy. I saved room for the local favorites: grid cakes and egg waffles. The grid cakes were crispy and delicious, topped with peanut butter and condensed milk—a sinful yet heavenly treat. Finally, I ended the night with a Tai Cheong egg tart, completing a satisfying meal. I believe I replenished plenty of collagen and protein that evening! The Seafood Feast Buffet Dinner is available until August 31. Prices are $828 per person from Monday to Thursday, and $888 per person on Fridays, weekends, public holidays, and eves. Groups of 12 or more can enjoy a 20% discount, while Shangri-La Circle members can enjoy a 15% discount and half-price for accompanying children.